Kenji Nakamura holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology from SOAS University of London and has spent decades researching musical traditions in Japan, Brazil, and Spain. He is a master of the Shakuhachi and various percussion instruments. He consults for cultural heritage organizations and teaches world music history.
Kenji Nakamura is a dedicated scholar and performer whose work explores the deep cultural roots of sound. With a PhD from SOAS University of London, his fieldwork has taken him from the samba schools of Rio de Janeiro to the gagaku orchestras of the Japanese Imperial Court. Kenji possesses technical mastery over a wide range of wind and percussion instruments, allowing him to write authoritatively on breath control, embouchure, and complex polyrhythms. He is passionate about decolonizing music education, teaching readers to appreciate the complexity of Flamenco rhythms or the spiritual significance of Candomblé drumming beyond mere 'exoticism'. His articles explain the physics of sound in traditional instruments, such as the construction of the Shō or the unique timbre of the Hichiriki, and how to preserve these instruments. Kenji also bridges the gap for Western musicians, explaining how to adopt global concepts—like 'Ma' (negative space) or the 'Clave'—into modern composition. He serves as a guide for those looking to expand their ears and technical abilities beyond the standard Western scale.